Close race anticipated at Warwick on Sunday

Olympic medallists Ed Clancy and Rob Hayles will be among 70 elite cyclists competing at the annual Warwick Cycle Races this Sunday.

Clancy was gold medallist in the Beijing team pursuit while Hayles won silver and bronze medals at Athens in 2004 in the team pursuit and Madison events. They will be taking part in the men's elite race against other top British cyclists, including the in-form Russell Downing and Tour of Spain points jersey winner Malcolm Elliott, with an exciting and close race in prospect.

The race will be the climax of a day’s worth of events, including round five of British Cycling’s inaugural National Disability Circuit Race series and amateur races for local adult and juniors, as well as unicycle and tricycle races.

There will be events for novices, under-10s, under-12s, solo and tandem disabled riders and women, and all will take place around a tight 1km circuit of Warwick town centre.

The first race of the day is at 11am starting at the Shire Hall in Market Place, while the elite pro race is from 5pm and will take just over an hour.

Spectators will be able to try unicycling and juggling and there will also be children’s rides, face painting and balloon making, as well as the chance to win your own bike and gym passes in a competition being run on the day.

The race is organised by Warwickshire County Council in partnership with British Cycling, Travelwise, Warwick District Council and Action 21. To see a full plan of the day’s races and to enter, visit www.warwickshire.gov.uk/cycleraces